Clamping device for car unloaders



Nov. 2 1926.

E. H. KIDDER CLAMPING DEVICE. FOR CAR UNLOADERS Filed Nov. 281 1924 "s sheets-sheet 1 Invenor Nov. 2 1926.

E. H. V.KIDDEFQ CLAMPING DEVICE FOR CAR UNLOADRS Filed Nov. 28, 1924 '3 sheets-sheet 2 gy Mgg/s.

Nov. 2 1926.

v 1,605,658 E. H. KIDDER CLAMPING DEVICE FOR CAR UNLoADERs Filed Nov. 28, 1924 s sheets-sheets lliatsuited Nov. .2, 1923.

UNETED STATES PATENT orion.

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS7 A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

CLAMPING DEVICE FOR CAR UNLOADERS.

Application filed November 28, 1924. Serial No. 752,586.

My invention relates to improvements in clamping device for car unloaders and shows a clamping device which will operate automatically to clamp a car` on the unloading frame when the frame or cradle rotates to dump the car. One object of my invention is to provide such a device as will be easily and conveniently operated, will be automatic in its operation and will always exert a suflicient amount of power to insure proper functioning of the Other objects of my invention will appear from time to time in the specication and claims.

My invention is illustrated more or less diagrammatically in the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure l is a side elevation of the unloader;

Figure 2 is a section along the line 2-2 of Figure 1 showing the clamp mechanism in elevation; a

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 showing the unloader in partly rotating position with the clamp in operation;

Figure A is a detail view of the lifting carriage.

Like parts are indicated by like characters -ln'oughout the specification and' drawings. 220 A is a cradle mounted on a plurality of ring frames A1, which frames travelon rollers A2 adapted to be rotated to rotate the ring frame and cradle by means of power applied through a drive shaft A3. A4 is a transfer table supported on rollers A5 A5 by means of inclined wedge blocks A6 A6 on the cradle. A7 A7 are car tracks on the transfer table adapted to support a car AB.

There may be two or more of the ring frames, depending on the length of the cradle and the length of the cars to be dumped thereby. Associated with each of these' ring frames is an automatic clamping device which forms the subject matter of the present invention. This automatic clamping device is adapted to come down and grip the top of the car body and hold it on vthe tracks so that when the cradle is rotated and the car is turned upside down with the dumping, the car will be held in place without vleaving the rails. The clamping arrangement is the samegfor each ring frame and a description of one, of course,` suffices for all.

B B1 are guide tracks. slid-able on the apparatus.

track B is a short jaw clamp B2 and slidable on the track B1 is a long j aw clamp B3. Associated with the bracket for one of the rollers A2 is a stop bracket B4 adapted to be engaged by a. lifting carriage B floating on the ring frame. B5 is a lifting rope extending from the lifting carriage B40 about sheaves Bj B7 at the bottom of the ring frame and B8 BJ at the top and terminating in an equalizer carriage B10. Extending from the lever B11 on the equalizer-carriage is the long rclamp lifting rope B12 which asses over a sheave B13 and a sheave 11 and is anchored on the long jaw clamp B3. B15 is a short jaw clamp lifting rope extending from theend of the lever B11 over a sheave B16 to the short jaw clamp B2. Thus when the cradle is in the upright position, the lifting carriage will have engaged the stop bracket and will havebeen held against further movement so as tol draw out the lifting rope and lift both the long and short jaw clamp.` Vhen the cradle is rotated in a counter clockwise direction, the lifting carriage B5 will travel on its rollers B17 along the track B18 toward the sheave B6 and permit the clamps to descend under'the force of gravity until they engage or rest upon thetop of the car, the parts being so positioned that this descent of the clamps and their engagement with the car will have been completed before the cradle rotates far enough to unseat the car from the track rails on which it stands.

C is the clamp holding rope. Tt is anchored at one end on one end of a relieving spring C15 and atthe top to the short jaw clamp B2, passes over a sheave C2, sheave C1 to a sheave C4 on the.equalizer sheave carriage G5, thence over a sheave C to an equalizer spring CT anchored on the long jaw clamp. The equalizer carriage C5, is slidable in tracks C16 and a rope C27 leads from this cariage over a sheave C8 and is wound about a drum C9. C10 is a lowering counterweight adapted to travel in the coun'- terweight housingk C11. It is suspended by a counterweight rope C12 passing over al sheave C13 and wound about the drum C9. C1 1 is a brake band wound about the drum and adapted to be gripped upon the drum by means ofthe brake counterweight C15 onthe counterweight lever C17. The purpose ofthis counterweight and drum is to draw the holding rope tight when the rotalim tion of the cradle permits the clamps to descend, the arrangement being such that as the cradle rotates after the clamps have been drawn down against the top of the car. the counteriveight Will create a tension in the brake band and hold the drum against rotation, thus holding the clamps in a down position against the weight or the car when it turns over. The relieving springs permit a sufficient amount of play and resiliency to insure smooth operation and protect the apparatus from shoclr.

Referring to the lifting carriage B40 shown in YFigure ll, E is a friction shoe pi-voted on the carriage and held against the tr: el: by the spring B42. The purpose of this is to frictionally hold the lifting carriage in place Wherever it may be when the tension on the cable B5 is released as otherivise as the dump turns over this carriage might slide or drift and permit tangling of the cable. The tension is ot course only sutlicient to hold the carriage against movement when in the idle position.

It ivi-ll be evident that While I have shoivn in my drawings an operative device, still many changes might be made in the size, shape and disposition of parts Without departing materially from the spirit of my invention and l Wish, therefore, that my showing be taken as in a sense diagrammatic.

The use and operation of my invention are as follows:

A gondola car to be dumped is run onto the tracks on the transfer table while the cradle and associated parts are in the upright position. The cradle is then rotated in a counter clockwise di-rection and the car and transfer table will move to the left through a limited excursion With respect to the cradle When it comes to rest against the side thereof. This rotation Will continue with the lifting` carriage remaining at rest with respect to the stop but moving in the cradle until the clamps have travelled down to engage the car as the sheave at the bottoni of the ring frame approaches the stop carriage. T his downward movement of the clamps will be assisted by the pull of the c-ounteiaveight which Winds up the holding rope on the drum so that this rope is taut at all times. As soon as the clamps settle down on the top of the car, they can move no further and the cradle will continue to rotate, and the holding rope will be held tight. Further rota-tion Will cause the brake counteriveight lever to rotate in a clock-Wise direction about its pivot exerting a tension on the brake band. This tension Will be exerted before the cradle has turned far enough to cause the Weight oit the car to be lifted from the rails and as the rotation continues the car will gradually turn over until practically its entire Weight is carried by the clamps, the brake band holding the drum against rotation. The parts remain in this position until the car has gone up iar enough so that it can be dumped.

The car after being dumped will be rrturned by return movement ot the cradle and as it moves bach, first the bralre lever will release the tension on the brale band and then the lifting carriage Will engage its stop and a tension Will be exerted on the clamp lifting ropes and the ch ,s will iinally be raised to the top oi the cradle drawingin on the bralre drum and raisi the countervf'eight freeing the car to per .i its removal `trom the transler table and liiting the cradle ready tor the next dumping operation.

l claim:

l. In a rotary car damper, a rotary car supporting cradle, a clamp adapted to hold a car thereon and clamp holdingl means comprising` a drum, a cable .leading Afrom the clamp and Wound about the drum, and a brake adapted to lock the drum.

2. In a rotary car duniper, a rotary car supporting` cradle, a clamp adapted to hold a car thereon and clamp holdingmeans comprising a drum, a cable lea-din lrom the clamp and Wound about the drum, and a brake adapted to lool: the drum as the cradle is moved to the dumping position.

3. ln a rotary car dumpeny a 'rotary supporting cradle, a clamp adapted to hold a car thereon and clamp holdi means comprising` a drum, a cable leading irom the clamp and Wound about the drum, and a brake adapted to lock the drum, a Weighted brake actuating lever pivot/ed on the cradle and adapted to lock the brake When t cradle is rotated a predetermined distance toivard the dumping position.

4l. ln a rotary car dumper, rotary car supporting cradle, a clamp adapted to hold a car thereon and clamp holding means comprising a drum, a cable leading from the clamp and Wound about the drum, a counterweicht cable Wound about the drum, a counteriveight carried thereby and adapted to rotate the drum to keep thc clamp cable tight and a bralre adapted to loch the drum,

5. In a rotary car dumper, a rotary car supporting cradle, a clamp adapted to hold a car thereon and clamp holding means comprising a drum` a cable leading from the clamp and Wound about the drum, a counterweicht cable Wound about the drum, a counterivei-ght carried thereby and adapted to rotate the drum to keep the clamp cable tight and a brake adapted to lock the drum as the cradle is moved to the dumping1 position. l

6. ln a rotary car dumper, a rotary car supporting cradle, a clamp adapted to hold a car thereon and clamp holdin means comprising a. drum, a cable leading from the clamp and Wound about the drum, a counterweight cable wound about the drum, a counter-weight carried thereby and adapted to rotate the drum to keep the clamp cable tight and a brake adapted to lock the drum, a weighted bralie actuating lever pivoted on the cradle and adapted to lock the brake when the cradle is rotated a predetermined distance toward the dumping position.

7. In a rotary car dumper, a rotary car supporting cradle, clam s adapted to hold a car thereon and clamp liolding means comprising a cable anchored at each end on the clamps, sheaves over which the cable travels, a carriage supporting one of saidV sheaves, a drum, a cable extending from said carriage and wound about the drum and a brake adapted to lock the drum.

8. In a rotary car dumper, a rotary car supporting cradle, clamps adapted to hold a car thereon and clamp holding means comprising a cable anchored at each end on the clamps, sheaves over which the cable travels, a carriage supporting one of said sheaves, a drum, a cable extending from said carriage and wound about the drum and a brake adapted to lock the drum as the cradle is moved to the dumping position.

Ina rotary car dumper, a rotary c ar supporting cradle, clamps adapted to hold a car thereon and clamp holding means comprising a cable anchored at each end on the clamps, sheaves over which the cable travels, a carriage supporting one of said sheaves, a drum, a cable extending 'from said carriage and wound about the drum and a brake adapted to lock the drum, a weighted brake actuating lever pivoted on the cradle and adapted to lock the bralre when the cradle is rotated a predetermined distance toward the dumping position.

10..In a rotary car dumper, a rotary car supporting cradle, clampsY adapted to hold a car thereon and clamp holding means comprising a cable anchored at each endon the clamps, sheaves over which the cable travels, a carriage supporting one of said sheaves, a drum, a cable extending `from said carriage and wound about the drum and a brake adapted to lock. the drum, a counterweight and a cable supportingit and wound about the drum adapted to exert a tension on the clamp holding cable system.

l1. In a rotary car dumper, a rotary car supporting` cradle, clamps adapted to hold a car thereon and clamp holding means comprising a cable anchored at each end on the clamps, sheaves over which the cable travels, a carriage supporting one of said sheaves, a drum, a cable extending from said carriage and wound about the drum and a brake adapted to lock the drum as the cradle is moved to the dumping position, a counterweight and a cable supporting it and Wound about the drum adapted to exert a tension on the clamp holding cable system.

1,2. In a rotary car dumper, a rotary car supporting cradle, clamps adapted to hold a car thereon and clamp holding means comprising a cable anchored at each end on the clamps, sheaves over which the cable travels, a carriage supporting one of said sheaves, a drum, a cable extending from said carriage and wound about the drum and a brake adapted to lock the drum, a weighted brake actuating lever pivoted on the cradle and adapted to lock the brake when the cradle is rotated a predetermined distancev toward the dumping position, a eounterweight and a cable supporting it and wound about the drum adapted to exert a tension on the clamp holding cable system.

13. In a rotary car dumper, a rotary car supporting cradle, clamps adapted to move toward and -from the car to hold it on the cradle, mea-ns `for moving the clamps away from the car comprising cables leading from each clamp, an equalizer lever to which said cables are attached, a lifting cable attached to the fulcrum of the lever and means associated therewith for pulling it out to raise the clamps as the cradle approaches the upright position.

14. In a rotary car dumper, a rotary car supporting cradle, clamps adapted to move toward and from the car to hold it on the cradle, means for moving the clamps away from the car comprising cables leading from each clamp, an equalizer lever, an equalizer carriage adapted to travel on the cradle and support the equalizer lever, a lifting cable attached to the carriage and means associated therewith for pulling it out to raise kthe clamps as the cradle approaches the upright position.

15. In a rotary car dumper, a rotary car supporting cradle, clamps adapted to move toward and from the car te hold it on the cradle, means for moving' the clamps away from the car comprising cables leading from each clamp, anequalizer lever towhic-h said cablesare attached, a lifting cable at tached to the ulcrum of the lever and means associated therewith 'for pulling it out to raise the clamps as the cradle approaches the upright position, said means being adapted to .pay out the cable .and lower the clamp as the cradle approaches the dumping position.

16. In a rotary car dumper, a rotary car supporting cradle, clamps adapted to move toward and from the car to hold it on the cradle, means for moving the clamps away from the car comprising cables leading from each clamp, an equalizer lever to which said cables are attached, a lifting cable attached to the fulcrum of the lever and means associated therewith for pulling it out to raise the clamps as the cradle approaches the upright position, said means comprising a carriage mounted for travel along the periphery of the cradle upon which the cable is anchored and a stop removed from the cradle in the path of the carriage.

17. ln a rotary car dumper, a rotary car supporting cradle, clamps adapted to move toward and from the car to hold it on the cradle, means 'for moving the clamps away from the car comprising cables leading from each clamp, an equalizer lever to which said cables are attached, a liiting cable attached to the tulcrum oi the lever` and means associated therewith pulling` it out to raise the clamps as the cradle approaches the upright position, said means comprising a plurality otl sheaves on the cradle over which the able travels, tracks on the cradle, a carriage on which the cable is anchored adapted to travel along said tracks and a stop fined alongside the path ot the cradle and adapted to engage the carriage to stop its movement and cause it to move along the tracks along the cradle to draw out the cable the carriage approaches the upright position.

18. ln a rotary car dumper, a rotary car supporting cradle, a clamp adapted to hold a car thereon and clamp holding means comprising a drum, a cable leading trom the clamp, wound about the drum, and a brake adapted to lock the drum, means for moving the cla-mp away trom the cl-1 comprising a carriage and means associated therewith for pulling it out to raise the clamp as the cradle vipproaches the upright position.

19. ln a rotary car dumper, a rotary car supporting cradle, a clamp adapted to hold a car thereon and clamp holding means con'iprising a drum, a cable leading Ytrom the clamp wound about the drum, and a brake adapted to lock the drum, means iior moving the clamp away Yfrom the car comprising a carriage and means associated therewith ior pulling it out to raise the clamp as the cradle approaches the upright position, a weighted brake actuating lever pivoted on the cradle and adapted to lock the brake when the cradle has rotated a predetermined distance toward the dumping position.

Q0. n a rotary car dumper, a rotary car supporting cradle, a clamp adapted to hold a car thereon and clamp holding means comprising a drum, a cable leading 'from the clamp wound about the drum, and a brake adapted to lock the drum, means for moving` the clamp away from the car comprising a carriage and means associated therewith tor pulling it out to raise the clamp as the cradle approaches the upright position, a weighted brake actuating lever pivoted on the cradle and adapted to lock the brake when the cradle has rotated a predetermined distance toward the dumping position, and means comprising a counterweight and cable wound about the drum 'tor exerting tension on the other cables. 21. ln a rotary car dumper, a rotary car supporting cradle, a clamp adapted to move toward and from a car and to hold it on the cradle, means Ytor moving the clamp away tromthe car comprising` a cable attached to the clamp and means associated with the cable for pulling it out to raise the clamp as the cradle approaches the upright position, said means comprisingl a carriage mounted 'for travel. along the periphery ot' the cadle upon which the cradle is anchored and a stop removed trom the cradle in the path ot the carriage.

A. car holding mechanism comprising; a rotatable cage adapted to contain a car to be dumped; a pair ot hool-:s on said cage adapted to be moved from a .ed position above a car body in said cage to a lowered position in engagement with said car body; mechanical equalizing means joining said hooks; and means t'or moving said hools from their raised position to their lowered position, said hook lowering means adapted to be operated by rotation oi said cage.

23. A car holding mechanism comprisingl a hook adapted to be moved from a raised position above a car body to a lowered position in engagement with a car body; means tor moving the hoolr from its raised position to its lowered position; and means operated by gravity tor positively clamping said hook in its lowered position.

Signed at Chicago county ot Cook and State oi illinois, this 20th day ot loveniber ELVIN H. IHDDER. 

